In Washington, a woman thought she was doing the right thing for her SUV. What started as a routine check turned into something far more unsettling, and the clues didn’t appear all at once. At first, nothing seemed broken. The vehicle still ran. The engine didn’t stall.
But something wasn’t right, and the signs began creeping in slowly. By the time smoke appeared, the mistake had already been made. One that could quietly shorten the life of an engine long before a breakdown ever happens. The most troubling part is how easy it was to get there.
The situation gained attention after a Washington woman, Candace Jones shared her confusion online. She believed her oil level was low because a dashboard needle wouldn’t move the way she expected. Instead of rising to “full,” it sat stubbornly in the middle. Assuming the engine needed more lubrication, she told her Facebook followers she kept adding oil.
She didn’t add a little. She added a lot. By the time she stopped, roughly ten quarts of oil had gone into the engine. More than double what most SUVs are designed to hold. Despite that, the vehicle continued to run. Needless to say, the comment section was bombarded with some helpful, but mostly snarky comments.
“I hope you’re joking. Do people really do this?” one follower asks.
“They’re called idiot lights for a reason,” another adds.
“Oh boy, there out out there. They walk amongst us,” one more states.
“Oh, Honey. Just get out of the vehicle,” a fourth suggests.
IYDK…You Don’t Know
Which made the situation even more deceptive. Only later did another symptom appear, smoke. That’s often a sign that excess oil is being forced into places it doesn’t belong, where it can burn, foam, or interfere with internal components.
Here’s where things went sideways. Many modern vehicles no longer display the oil level on the dashboard. What drivers often see instead is an oil pressure gauge. That needle is supposed to hover near the middle when everything is functioning normally.
Oil pressure measures how hard the system is working to circulate oil, not how much oil is inside the engine. Pouring in more oil won’t push that needle upward. If the pressure is normal, the gauge won’t budge. No matter how many quarts are added. That misunderstanding was at the heart of this incident.
Overfilling an engine can be just as dangerous as running it dry. Excess oil can become aerated, strain seals, foul spark plugs, and force oil into areas not designed to handle it. Smoke is often an early warning, not a harmless side effect. Ignoring it can lead to expensive repairs or complete engine failure.
Big Mistake Equals Big Money
If you’re unsure about your oil level, the safest step is to stop and double-check before adding anything. Use the dipstick if your vehicle has one, and always consult the owner’s manual to confirm capacity. If something doesn’t make sense, like a gauge that won’t move.
Assume it may not be measuring what you think it is. When in doubt, ask a professional before pouring. But, when it comes down to it, if you don’t know, you don’t know. And trying to guess may have cost this Washington woman far more than just a little embarrassment.
Sofia Bassett 
Lola Wheeler 
Kendra Quinn 
